Bag-fastener



' (No Model.)

' R. 0.. RICE I BAG FASTENER.-

No. 471,433. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

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D STAT PAT NT ()FF'ICE.

ROBERT 0. RICE, OF CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BAG-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,433, dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed May 15, 1891. Serial No. 392,813. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT 0. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing atNew Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This improvement is designed to provide a bag, and more particularly a mail-bag, which can be readily and quickly opened and as quickly closed and secured along thewhole length of the opening; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and then definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents an elevation of a bag closed with part of the casing of the lock-work broken Fig. 2 is a similar view from the op posite side of the bag, also with part of the casing broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan of the frame with the locking devices represented as when unlocked in full lines and as when locked in dotted lines. Fig. 4 shows a plan of the lock-bar and locking-buttons detached. Fig. 5 shows a similar plan with the bar and buttons in the reversed or unlocked position.'

cranks 7, which pass into holes 8 in lock-bar 9, provided with a hole 10, which is acted upon by the bit of a key 11.

At 12 is shown a spring attached to the top of the frame and with its ends bearing on the top of the lock-bar to keep it in position. For short frames one such spring will be sufficient; but it will be preferable to use one at each end of the bar on long frames. I do not, however, limit myself to this particular form of spring, as other forms of springs may be used, if preferred.

At 13 pins are shown which-act as stops to either direction.

shut it and then turn the key 11, which will catch in the notch 10 and move the bar 9 in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 3, thus causing the buttons to assume the position represented in Fig. 1, which will firmly lock the frame of the bag from end to end. A reverse movement of the key will of course unlock it.

By this construction a simple style of bagfastener is made that is very convenient and will lock the frame from end to end with a simple motion after the frame is closed and unlock and open just as easily. Itwill be found much more convenient than the mailbags now generally used, which require several motions to open-viz., first, the unlocking of a padlock; second, laying the padlock down; third, the-withdrawing of the strap from the staples, and, fourth, the opening of the bag. In closing and locking the old style of bag mine has still greater advantage on account of the time spent in passing the strap through the staples.

What I claim as new is- The combination, in a bag-fastening, of a frame comprising two main parts 1 and 2, hinged together, one of said parts having slots 4 and the other carrying a series a buttons 6, having cranks 7, a lock-bar 9, having notch 10, and a spring 12,acting on said lock-bar, all substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of May, 1891.

ROBERT 0. RICE.

Witnesses:

HIRAM G. MILLER,

W. D. WALLACE.

the look-bar and prevent its going too far in- In looking my bag it is only necessary to. 

